Samuel t



S. T. WAGGNER.

Folding-Table. NoflelO/l, i PatentedMarCh23,1s75.

SAMUEL T. WAGGONER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ADOLPHUS HAGELIN AND CHARLES LANKLER, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING TABLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 161,304, dated March 23, 1875 application filed March 2, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, SAWUEL T. WAGGONER, of the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to that class of tables in which the legs are hinged so as to be capable of being folded up against the under side of the bed of the table when the latter is not required for use; and it consists in a peculiar means for iirrnly securing the legs in an open position, as will be hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. lis a sectional elevation of my improved table with one pair of legs secured in an open position and the other pair folded up against the bed. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Like letters of reference designate like parts in each of the figures.

A is the bed of the table, and B the four legs thereof hinged to the under side of the bed at Z1, so as to fold or swing inward. U is a cross-picce connecting the upper ends of the two legs at each end of the table. D represents two cross-pieces of the same thickness as the piece C, secured to the under side of the bed A, near each end thereof, so that the cross-pieces O, when the legs are open, will fit snugly against the pieces D which form stops for the legs. E is a pivoted fasteninghook or arm secured to the under side of either the cross-piece C or D at each end of the table, and engaging with a catch, e, attached to the under side of the other cross-piece, in the manner of a meeting-rail sashslock, so that by closing the hook E upon the catch e the cross` piece O is drawn tightly against the crosspiece D, whereby the legs are rmly secured in their unfolded or open position. f is a strip of rubber or other elastic material secured to one of the cross-pieces C or D at their adjacent sides, so that in drawing the crosspiece C against the piece D, .by the fastening device E, the rubber strip will be compressed and take up any slight play that might exist between the two adjacent cross-pieces, thereby preventing any rattling or shaking of the legs. The strip j'need not extend the entire length of thc cross-pieces O D, but may, if preferred, be made in two parts, one arranged near each end of the respective cross-piece. Upon disengaging the lock E from the catch e the legs are free to be closed, when they may be secured in that position by any ordinary fastening device.

In my improved table the cross-piece C connecting the legs being arranged directly under the bed A, they do not obstruct the space between the two legs, ateach end of the table, as in ordinary foldingtables in which a crosspiece is required near the middle of the legs for securing the braces thereto. By my im proved construction all four sides of the table are left entirely open, which adapts the table especially for use as a card-table and for other social purposes.

What l claim as my invention isl. The combination, with the bed of a table, provided with cross-pieces D, of the hinged legs B, connected by cross-pieces O, and the fastening-device E e, the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

2. In combination with the bed of the table, cross-pieces D G, and fastening-device E e, the interposed elastic strip f, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

SAMUEL T. WAGGONER.

Witnesses:

JNO. J. BONNER, A. HAGELIN.

substantially as and for 

